Dental instrument for ligating, placing, and removing pins, adjusting, etc.



Aprll 19, 1960 SHELDON 2,932,894

DENTAL INSTRUMENT FOR LIGATING, PLACING, AND

REMOVING PINS, ADJUSTING, ETC. Filed April 3, 1957 INVENTOR. JOSEPH. A. 5//[DON MKM ATTORNEYS DENTAL INSTRUMENT FOR LIGATING, PLAC- 5 ING, AND REMOVING PINS, ADJUSTING, ETC.

This invention relates to a dental instrument and refers more particularly to a dental instrument known as a crown of the forceps type for ligating, placing, adjusting and removing wires and bands, etc. and for general use in the practise of orthodontia.

In the known constructions of orthodontic adjusting forceps, no provisions have been made to render the instrument more adaptable during the course of its manipulation and operation. Practical experience has also shown that prior expedients have not provided a maximum degree of usefulness and effectiveness of the gripping or jaw portions which constitute the most vital operative portion of the instrument.

It has been found that in order to effect the dental instrument of the type described most adaptable and more suitable during its manipulation, a greater gripping area having internally serrated edges is more beneficial.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to increase the facility of an orthodontic instrument of the type described during its manipulation and use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide instantaneous adjustment of the wire or band or object being ligated, placed or removed.

Yet another object is to provide an instrument for easily ligating, placing, adjusting, and removing wires, etc. and for general use in the practise of orthodontia.

Still another object is to provide greater degree of safety for the physician and patient during the use of a novelly constructed dental instrument herein described.

It is an object of the present invention to secure Wires and other articles more efliciently without deforming or damaging such wires, bands, etc. which contact the dental instrument of the type described.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives the inventive concept of the present invention may be realized through the provision of an orthodontic dental instrument of the forceps type wherein two complementary members or levers are diagonally pivotally joined intermediate their respective ends. The shorter portions, or gripping mem- 55 bers are disposed at one end of the pivot while the longer portions or handle members are disposed at the opposite end of the pivot.

One of the novel characteristic features of the gripping members constituting the present invention consists of expanded tips which have serrated internal surfaces.

The expanded tip projects outwardly perpendicular to both sides of each gripping member. Likewise, its complementary expanded tip also projects outwardly on both sides of the gripping member and it is perpendicular thereto.

The remaining portions of the external or inner surfaces of the orthodontic forceps instrument as described herein are smooth and are made integrally of a durable material preferably steel.

A fuller understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following description taken in States Patent 2,932,894 Patented Apr. 19, 1960 conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the orthodontic forceps of the type described in an open fully extended position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the novel instrument of the type described in a closed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the gripping portion showing the internal surface of a serrated expanded tip.

Figure 3a is an enlarged view of the gripping portion showing a pronounced groove on the internal surface of a serrated expanded tip.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal view of the dental instrument taken along the line 4-4 of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one complementary member of the dental instrument showing the gripping and handle members.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal view taken along one side of the dental instrument showing the pivot member intermediate the novel gripping and handle members.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference nu meral 10 indicates the novel dental instrument of the forceps type, and as illustrated in Figure 1, it is constituted of two complementary levers 11 and 12 which are pivotally secured by a pivot 13.

The two complementary levers 11 and 12 are comprised of a gripping portion 14 and a handle member 15 respectively. As shown in Figure 1, the novel dental inw strument is illustrated in an open position, fully extended. Further extension or opening of the complementary members 11 and 12 is prevented due to the locking or restricting construction 16 and 17 of the adjacent gripping and handle members.

The orthodontic forceps instrument of the type described is illustrated in Figure 2 in a closed position. The internal surfaces 18 of the gripping members 14 lie substantially parallel to each other.

The novel expanded tip 19 of each complementary gripping member 14 and which is more clearly illustrated in Figure 3 has its internal surfaces 20 serrated. in order to secure an object more firmly. The expanded tip 19 projects outwardly on both sides of the gripping member 14 and its peripheral edges are smoothed as shown in the accompanying drawing.

Each expanded tip 19 of the gripping member 14 as shown in Figure 2 is flattened or tapered to a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the pivot portion 13. However, when looking in the direction of Figures 3 and 4 the expanded tip 19 has a diameter greater than its complementary adjacent gripping portion 14.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the internal surfaces 20 of the expanded tip 19 are serrated. The serrations 26 consist of a plurality of crossed grooves randomly spaced from each other and form a rough surface for securing objects more firmly. The increased surface area of each expanded tip 19 enables the orthodontist to hold pins, etc. more efliciently not heretofore possible by the expedients of the prior art.

A pivot member 13 as shown in Figures 4 and 6 is integrally formed with a complementary member 12. Its configuration is cylindrical and pivotally secures the opposition complementary lever 11.

The outer and inner surfaces of the novel dental instrument are generally formed smooth except the internal surfaces 20 of the expanded tip 19 as herein described which constitutes the novel feature of the present invention.

In another form of the novel device, a pronounced groove 21 is machined on the serrated internal surface 29a of the expanded tip 19a. This construction permits the orthodontist to manipulate wires and bands more steadily and with greater dexterity. Such wires may range in gauge between .010 to .040 inch and are firmly accommodated in the groove 21.

It is apparent that this construction exhibits a feature most highly desirable in an orthodontic instrument of the type described. The improved construction as described is easily'applied and is instantaneously secured to any object desired to be adjusted, ligated, removed, or placed. With the application of slight pressure to the handle members, the object may be safely manipulated.

The operation of the device is obviously apparent from the foregoing description, and due to the practicality and improved structural form, the novel device is advantageous for other general use in the practice of orthodontia.

The above-mentioned structural advantages are not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend themselves to a variety of expressions within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An orthodontal dental instrument of the forceps type,

comprising a pair of complementary levers, a pivot member pivotally securing said levers intermediate their ends, each of said levers comprising a handle portion and a gripping portion located on opposite sides of said pivot, and a separate expanded tip integrally formed with each gripping portion and located at the outer end thereof, said tip having a serrated inner surface, an upper converging projection extending beyond said gripping portion and perpendicularly thereto, and a lower converging projection located opposite the upper projection and extending beyond said gripping portion and substantially perpendicularly thereto, each of said tips having a groove extending through the entire tip between said upper and lower projections upon the outer end of the tip substantially parallel to said pivot, the inner surfaces of said gripping portions adjacent to said grooves being substantially flat and contiguous with each other when said handle lever portions are closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,254 Reichardt Aug. 25, 1891 1,034,591 Douds Aug. 6, 1912 1,103,606 Montag July 14, 1914 

